Cheapest and Best Car Insurance Companies in Tacoma, WA

Tacoma drivers should compare quotes and coverage options from multiple companies to find the most suitable insurance option for their needs and driver profile.

In terms of affordability, the top-rated company in Tacoma is PEMCO for both minimum and full coverage policy types. PEMCO also offers the cheapest rates for military drivers and those with violations.

The best overall insurer in Tacoma is Chubb, and this same company also earned our top scores for the best customer service and the best cheap policies.

The two cheapest car insurance providers for a minimum coverage policy in Tacoma, Washington, are:

• PEMCO: $318 per year
• Capital Insurance Group: $367 per year

The most expensive company is Dairyland at $1,703 per year as of October 2022. By choosing PEMCO over Dairyland, drivers can save around $1,385 per year on car insurance. This makes PEMCO a great option for drivers looking for affordable minimum car insurance.

On a statewide basis, PEMCO’s $309 average annual rate is the cheapest car insurance in Washington, with a rate that’s $9 lower than its typical premium in Tacoma.

According to Washington law, drivers are required to carry a car insurance policy that covers bodily injuries and property damage. The minimum coverage levels for liability insurance in Washington are as follows:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $10,000 property damage liability per accident

If you only have $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and the expenses from an accident exceed that amount, you will be responsible for paying the difference out of pocket. For instance, if the injured driver incurs $50,000 in medical bills, your insurance will only cover the first $25,000, leaving you responsible for the remaining $25,000.

To avoid such risk, it’s generally recommended to purchase higher coverage limits than the minimum required by law.

If you’re looking for the most affordable full coverage auto insurance in Tacoma, these two companies stand out:

• PEMCO: $612 per year
• Capital Insurance Group: $788 per year

Choosing the right car insurance provider can make a difference in your wallet. Dairyland is the most expensive option, with an average annual premium of $3,595 as of October 2022.

Zooming out for a statewide view, PEMCO remains the cheapest full coverage car insurance provider in Washington, with a $614 average rate that’s nearly identical to its $612 rate in Tacoma.

A full coverage policy includes collision and comprehensive coverage in addition to liability coverage.

• Collision Insurance: Covers damages to your car if you collide with another vehicle or object.
• Comprehensive Insurance: Covers damages caused by other non-collision events, such as theft, fire or natural disasters.

Drivers should consider their car’s age and value when deciding on insurance coverage. For older and less valuable cars, a full coverage policy may not be worth the extra expense.

PEMCO stands out as the cheapest car insurance option for drivers in Tacoma with a history of traffic violations.

• Speeding ticket: PEMCO ($764 per year)
• At-fault accident: PEMCO ($838 per year)
• DUI: PEMCO ($1,021 per year)

Dairyland has the highest average premium for drivers with speeding tickets ($4,193 per year) and accidents ($4,596 per year), while Kemper has the highest premium for DUIs ($4,491 per year).

If you live in Tacoma and have a history of violations, PEMCO may be your cheapest choice. Even then, your rates will still be significantly more expensive than those of a driver with clean record.

Finding cheap car insurance after a bad driving record can be a challenge. The type of violation can also make a big difference, as more severe offenses carry increased insurance costs.

For instance, in Tacoma, the cheapest policy for drivers with DUIs costs around $257 more per year than the most affordable policy for drivers with speeding tickets.

The cheapest car insurance companies for teens on a family policy in Tacoma are:

• Kemper: $1,865 per year for teen girls and $1,938 per year for teen boys
• Nationwide: $2,309 per year for teen girls
• Capital Insurance Group: $2,319 per year for teen boys

Progressive offers the most expensive insurance for teen drivers at $4,757 per year for girls and $5,244 per year for boys.

Rates tend to be higher for teen boys than teen girls as they are seen as riskier to insure. However, the difference drops off in early adulthood.

Adding a teen driver to an existing policy is usually much cheaper than buying a separate insurance plan.

Insuring a teenager on a family plan costs around $2,723 per year, whereas buying an individual policy costs roughly $5,104 per year. This is a significant difference of $2,381 per year.

Shopping around for the cheapest car insurance for teens is the first step. To further offset the cost, teens can also take defensive driving courses, maintain good grades and drive safe vehicles with advanced safety features.

According to recent data, these two companies offer the cheapest car insurance rates for military members in Tacoma:

• PEMCO: $612 per year
• USAA: $661 per year

In comparison, Dairyland’s rate is much higher at an average of $3,595 per year.

For those seeking minimum coverage, USAA and PEMCO also offer the cheapest car insurance options for military drivers, with average rates of $296 and $318 per year, respectively.

It’s always important to compare quotes and coverage options from multiple insurers to find the cheapest auto insurance for military drivers.

When obtaining a car insurance quote in Tacoma, it's important to note that the process can be time-consuming and require a lot of personal information. However, MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help simplify the process by providing an estimate based on basic information, such as age, vehicle type, coverage level and driving record. This tool can save you time and provide a ballpark estimate of your car insurance premiums.

MoneyGeek’s comparison of auto insurance companies in Tacoma found that Chubb outranks all insurers in the following categories:

• Best overall: Chubb (MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100)
• Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Chubb (MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100)

USAA scored 85 out of 100, making it one of the best choices for military drivers in Tacoma. Coverages and discounts from USAA are tailored to military drivers.

On a statewide basis, the best car insurance in Washington is from GEICO. This signifies that several factors, including location, determine which company is the best.

Overall, the best companies for car insurance for the average Tacoma driver are:

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($1,157 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 ($788 per year)

Chubb earned our top spot due to its outstanding claims management and high customer satisfaction.

USAA is the best auto insurance company for military drivers, receiving a MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100. It offers coverages and discounts specifically tailored to the needs of military families.

These are the top auto insurance companies in Tacoma if you prioritize getting the best possible customer service.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100 ($1,157 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 68 out of 100 ($788 per year)

Chubb earned our top spot with the best claims management reputation in Tacoma, along with the second-highest score for customer satisfaction, behind only Capital Insurance Group, our runner-up.

For policies that meet the state’s minimum requirements while still providing high-quality service, these are our top picks in Tacoma:

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($539 per year)
• Capital Insurance Group: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 ($367 per year)

A minimum coverage policy in Tacoma has the lowest rates but also offers low levels of protection against liability costs. In addition, this policy includes no coverage for damage to your own car.

Tacoma drivers pay an average of $1,244 per year for full coverage auto insurance. These rates are for a full coverage policy with $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability.

The average cost of car insurance in Washington is $75 cheaper than in Tacoma. The national average cost of car insurance is $1,265 per year as of October 2022, a difference of just $21 compared to the typical rate in Tacoma.

Keep in mind that location is one of many factors affecting the cost of car insurance.